Page 72 of Mr. Not Quite Perfect

“Oh wow. You like Stormzy, too,” Poppy said, looking away from me at Travis. “Seems like you and Molly have so much in common.”

“Oh yeah. We kind of like one of the same musicians, and it doesn’t even seem like he likes the musician. He just went because his hookup wanted to see Stormzy.”

“Did I say I went with a hookup?” He sat back in his chair and sipped his whiskey.

“No, but…”

“I said I went with a friend.”

“Yeah, and I can guess what sort of friend it was.”

“Actually, it was one of my oldest friends from university. I spent a year at Oxford.”

“You did? I didn’t know that.”

“You don’t know everything about me, Molly. Just as I suppose I don’t know everything about you.”

Poppy looked back and forth between us, a look of exhilaration on her face.

“Anyway, let’s change the subject,” I said. “This steak is really delicious.”

I cut into my steak and put some of the mashed potatoes on it.

“It really is,” Travis said. “Good choice, Poppy.”

“Thanks. I can’t wait for you guys to try the dessert as well.” She grinned.

“Dessert?” Travis looked surprised. “I don’t know that I can eat dessert as well.”

“Oh, you have to,” Poppy said easily. “Molly and I always get dessert.”

Travis looked over at me. “You do now, huh?”

“Yeah. We both have sweet teeth.”

“I see.” He chuckled to himself.

“What’s so funny?” I asked, questioning him.

“I see why you don’t like salty milkshakes now. You prefer the sweet.”

I glared at him and didn’t say anything. Poppy looked confused, and then it dawned on her what he was saying. I watched as she blushed slightly and giggled.

“I don’t know if I should have been on this date with you two.”

“It’s not a date. We came to dinner, and this is a work trip.”

“Yeah, it’s not a date,” Travis said, nodding in agreement. “And I’m really glad to meet you, Poppy. I’m glad to meet Molly’s best friend, and I hope you make it over to New York City. I think that you would really enjoy the Big Apple.”

“Me too,” she said. “I really, really, really want to come, but I think it would be smarter if I get a job first.”

“I mean, you could always work at Covington and Associates,” Travis offered, and my jaw dropped.

No way was he offering Poppy a job. Poppy knew even less than me, and I knew nothing. She laughed then.

“Thank you so much, and I really appreciate it. And if I was desperate, I would take it.” She paused. “Sorry, that didn’t sound right, but I have absolutely no interest in finance at all, and you would regret hiring me.”

“I don’t regret hiring Molly yet.”

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